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BROOKLYN 2 RADIOTHERAPY Paul KANE Fri 30 th Aug 2013 Session 2 / Talk 4 11:20 – 11:40 • ABSTRACT •Cancer patients and their families in New Zealand frequently report that provision of support services is disjointed and subject to regional variation. The publication of the Implementation of Support Care guidance document by the Ministry of Health indicates this as a priority issue. A recent Cancer Society report indicates one factor is lack of clarity around the role of GPs here. Oncologists have varying and often ill-defined expectations in terms of the support that could or should be provided by GPs. Patients are often confused about who to refer to for care after specialist treatment has been completed. With confused lines of communication GPs appear to be “out of the loop”. •The study highlighted core issues for GPs. These include; variable standards of communication with specialists and ideas how this can be improved; a belief that GPs have a significant role to play in support of patients; comparison with a range of chronic conditions to guide the role of GPs in the care for cancer patients; concerns over currency of their oncology knowledge; barriers to patients accessing GP services; limited awareness of services and information which may be of benefit to patients and discussion around cultural considerations pertinent to the NZ setting. •GPs seem willing to engage in supporting patients manage their condition in the short and long term. Unsurprisingly there are barriers to that engagement. It is important to establish the perceptions of oncologists to complete the picture and construct viable pathways to improving overall service to patients.
